Heya all --

I just purchased a pair of B&W 803d's and I am now purchasing the rest of the speakers for a 5.1 setup. I recently read that it is better two have two subs running as it provides for more headroom and results in less strained sounding bass.

I can't afford two 825's, so I was wondering if you thought it was better to go with one 825 or to 855's. I'm probably 50% music and 50% home theater, so I would rather have the solution where both situations sound great than where case one sounds out of this world and the other sounds pretty good.

Thanks!
Eric

(Edited the title to reflect the proper question.)

Umm...isn't the 855 more expensive than the 825?

No. The B&W's get more expensive as the model number shrinks. My 803s are less expensive than the 802s.

No. The B&W's get more expensive as the model number shrinks. My 803s are less expensive than the 802s.

While that is true for their main speakers, the smaller number model is the larger more expensive speakers. Its not the same for their subs. The ASW 825 is the 12" model while the ASW 855 is the 15" model. The ASW 855 is the more expensive model. The ASW 855 retails for about $3300 and the ASW 825 retails for about $2500 USD.

Hey, thanks for the heads up. And the question still stands - one of the bigger or two of the smallers?

Cheers!
Eric

I'd would take two 825's. They will probably offer more performance than a single 855.

Considering the expense of these subs, how do they compare to other high end subs?
Like JL Audio F112 or F113, or Velo DD15 or DD18?

Chris.

I would say the only driving factor for the B&W 800 series sub is the unique cabinet shape and the real wood veneers.

If performance is of any concern then i would look into the DD series or JL FAthoms.

Ya I'd have to second that. I've got B&W speakers (600 series) so when I was looking for a sub I was thinking B&W, naturally enough. I'm glad people here suggested I look at SVS. While I haven't listened to them side by side, I'd say that the SVS sub is miles ahead of the ASW 650 and 675.

Of course the 800 series ASWs are probably better, but still I get the feeling with their subs that they really aren't worth the money. They aren't bad or anything, but you can do better with the cash.

IMO, YMMV, AYBABTU.

I have the ASW 855 for auditon while my HGS-18 is getting fixed and i love them so much over the Velodyne. they are so much more musical and blend perfectly with my nautlis 805s. you can Brag about the sound output of all the fart boxes like Cerwin Vega all you want but if you want quality sound go with B&W!!!


Tommy

I recently read that it is better two have two subs running as it provides for more headroom and results in less strained sounding bass.

Although that's true, that's not "exactly" the reason people run 2 subs. The headroom increase is 3 to 6dBs depending upon whether or not you colocate (i.e. stack) the subs.

I'd get the single 15". Why? I don't know. :) How much more are 2 825s than a single 855?

Unfortunately, the website gives no output information for the 2 subs, which would be useful. The download links for the 2 manuals give me busted files.

The 825 is -3dB@ 20Hz.

The 855 is -3dB@18Hz.